Box Score
Box Score (PDF)
MOREHEAD, Ky. – For the second straight match, the Morehead State soccer team out-shot its opponent, but also for the second straight time, the Eagles came up one goal short on the scoreboard. On Friday night at Jayne Stadium, the visiting Akron Zips got the game winner with 38 seconds left in overtime to defeat the Eagles 2-1. MSU fell to 1-4 on the year, while the Zips moved to 2-0.
“The game is about scoring goals. Somebody has to want to put the ball in the back of the net. Somebody has to sacrifice something to put the ball in the back of the net,” said head coach Warren Lipka. “If we would have scored goals early, the outcome would have been different, but all we can do is keep working.”
The Eagles had a one-shot advantage by halftime, 7-6, but trailed by a goal. Akron’s Jordan Clark scored at 19:47 off assists by Britni Back and Andrea Schweisthal. The double assist came via a corner kick that Schweisthal tapped to Back who then sent a cross into the box for Clark.
In the second half, MSU turned up the intensity, out-shooting the Zips 11-4. Sophomore forward Jillian Birchmeier netted the equalizer at 82:30. After a through pass from sophomore Stephanie Gildehaus, Birchmeier launched a 25-yard shot that Zip keeper Michelle Smith, who got her hands on the shot, could not corral. It was Gildehaus’ first career assist and Birchmeier’s 13th career goal as well as her team-leading third ball in the back of the net this year.
The teams traded a couple of solid scoring chances in regulation before time ran out. In the overtime period, Akron managed three shots to the Eagles’ two, but with 38 seconds left, Back got possession on the left side just outside the box. She dribbled her way through the Eagle defense to middle of the box and smashed a 10-yard shot past MSU keeper Lily Meisner.
The teams were even on corner kicks at six apiece. Meisner made four saves off six Akron shots on goal, while Smith stopped five of the Eagles six shots on net.
Morehead State hosts Evansville at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
